1. Soft artificial reefs and mega-nourishment: A global innovative approach for coastal defence
PhD Student:
Benjamin Beylard
Dr. Shunqi Pan Dr. Roger Falconer
Supervisors:

2. INCREASE of the world population along the coast
INCREASE of urbanization and human activities
INCREASE natural erosion
[1]

3. INCREASE of the world population along the coast
INCREASE of urbanization and human activities
INCREASE natural erosion
Coastal protection
HARD coastal engineering approach
[2]

4. Hard coastal engineering
SEAWALL
RECHARGED TIMBER GROYNE SYSTEM
Ucsusa.org
Galveston, Texas, USA
Channelcoast.org
Eastbourne, UK
Don’t forget that they are relatively expensive to build and maintain
snh.org UK
MAJOR ROCK ARMOR REVETMENT
[3]

5. INCREASE of the world population along the coast
INCREASE of urbanization and human activities
INCREASE natural erosion
Often displace and/or accentuate the problem
Coastal protection
HARD coastal engineering approach
Building with nature
[4]

6. Soft coastal engineering
“Building with nature” solutions
- Working with nature and not anymore against it
- Less expensive to build and/or maintain
- Wild range of secondary applications
(recreational activities, ecological enhancement…)
- “In Europe, there is a growing trend of “Building with nature” initiatives to improve the long term, environmental and socioeconomic sustainability of coastal management strategies” (Bilkovic, 2017)
[5]

7. Soft Artificial reefs Mega-nourishment “Geotextile reef” [1]
Examples:
“Zand motor” in 2011 [3] More details in de Schipper et al, 2016
“Geotextile reef” [1]
[1] Picture from savetrestles.com
“Soft artificial reef balls” [2] More details in Harris, 2009
[2] Picture from NewEnglandBoating.com
[3] Picture from Joop van Houdt
[6]

8. Aims and Objectives of the study
Set up an advanced modelling framework which simulates the complex and
interactive nearshore processes under the combined wave and tide conditions,
affected by mega-nourishments and soft artificial reefs at short and long term This well calibrated tools will be designed to help coastal Engineers for a better and sustainable coastal zone management
Improve the understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of mega-nourishments and artificial reefs, including the most recent data, through a complete and up-to-date literature review. This will be design as a guide for future project.
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9. Any questions? THANKS FOR LISTENING
Master’s Thesis Presentation

10. References www.wisecdt.org [9]
Bilkovic, D.M., Mitchell, M.M., La Peyre, M.K., Toft, J. D., Living Shoreline. CRC Press, first published the 3rd of March 2017, 519 p.
de Schipper, M.A., de Vries, S., Ruessink, G., de Zeeuw, R.C., Rutten, J., van Gelder-Maas, C., Stive, M.J.F., (2016). Initial spreading of a mega-nourishment: Observations of the sand engine pilot project. Coastal Engineering, 111,
Harris, Artificial reefs for ecosystem restoration and coastal erosion protection with aquaculture and recreational amenities. The Reef Journal, 1, 1–12.
[9]